DANCING WITH THE STARS Pros Join Broadway Theatre Project

Debra McWaters - BTP Co-Artistic Director and President, announces that Dancing With The Stars professional Ballroom and Latin dancers Nicholas Kosovich (DWTS seasons 1 and 2) and Elena Grinenko (DWTS seasons 3 and 4) will offer Q&A sessions, as well as teach Master dance technique classes to young students interested in a career in musical theatre at the Broadway Theatre Project this summer in Tampa , Florida.

Nicholas Kosovich, a native Australian, is an internationally respected figure in the world of ballroom where he competed for 36 years and participated in seven Professional World Championships. He is a two-time American Ballroom champion, a 2005 World American Champion, a two-time U.S. Classic Show Dance Champion, among many other honors. 

But what took Nick to international fame was his place as one of the professional dancers for two seasons on the ABC hit television series, Dancing With The Stars. In season 2, he danced with actress Tatum O'Neal, and in season 3 with actress Vivica Fox. He also served as a choreographer for the show for which he received an Emmy nomination.

Kosovich has also appeared in movies including Shall We Dance?, Everyone Says I Love You, Blue In the Face, and Only With You. "Versatility is the key," says Kosovich with regard to his message to BTP students. " Ballroom and Latin dances each have a specific character that one must bring to the table when dancing in order to portray each individual dance effectively. Learning these character styles will sharpen the acting, as well as, the dancing skills." 

Elena and Maxim starred as lead dancers in Latin Fusion on Broadway, which eventually evolved as the touring show Ballroom With A Twist. Elena enjoyed a long time partnership with Dancing With The Stars' Tony Dovolani. Together they were undefeated National and World American Rhythm Champions. "It's not enough to be a one-dimensional dancer, " says Grinenko, "to be a real threat on the dance floor, dancers must study more than just one style of dance. Many top professional dancers today have their roots in Ballet, Tap, Hip-Hop, Modern, Latin, Ballroom dancing and more, so they are prepared for whatever the audition calls for. I want to teach the young performers at BTP to see the depth of what Ballroom and Latin dancing brings to their future careers in musical theatre" 

Kosovich and Grinenko will join a vast group of performers at the Broadway Theatre Project this year including Co-Artistic Director Ben Vereen. 

For more information on the Broadway Theatre Project go to www.broadwaytheatreproject.com.

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